#verdant astra

[shadowkira]

Thasmin Fic Recs:

Action / Adventure:

Echoes of War by Eriadu (Series - 2 Works) (T) (Telepathy) ( AO3)

Ghostwalk by Eriadu (E) (3) (Angst) (Spooky)

The Curse of the Pharaoh by Mag_lex (T) (13) (AO3)

Angsty:

A frozen moment by Eriadu (E) (2) (AO3)

are you really gonna love me when i'm gone? by freefallvertigo (E) (4) (dark!Doctor) (AO3)

Cloudbursting by headcanonsandmore (T) (1) (AO3)

Corrosion by Mag_lex (M) (6) (Memory loss AU) (AO3)

Courage & Stupidity by seaunicorn (T) (1) (AO3)

Forever in a moment by Captainswanmycaptainswan (T) (1) (AO3)

The Path Erased by Eriadu (T) (4) (Two of Yaz) (AO3)

time has been unkind by seaunicorn (E) (1) ( AO3)

When it all comes crashing down by Eriadu (E) (1) (AO3)

You laugh like there's hope in the story by freefallvertigo (T) (1) (AO3)

AUs:

A Dark & Verdant Door by Eriadu (M) (27) (faun!13) (sheriff!Yaz) (AO3)

A week (and half a world) away by Eriadu (E) (7) (human!13) (modern AU)(AO3)

chance is the only game i play with, baby by timelxrd (E) (15) (nb!Yaz) (boxing AU) (human!13) (AO3)

honey don't feed it, it will come back by timelxrd (E) (4) (cryptid AU) (AO3)

Love is Blind by Might_Be_A_Zygon (T) (1) (Angst) (Gorgon AU) (Major character death) (AO3)

Never Cruel or Cowardly by Bow_Ties (E) (65) (Fantasy AU) (AO3)

Pink Elephants by TechnicolorRevel (G) (1) (daemon AU) (AO3)

Star by Star by Eriadu (E) (27) (Space Opera AU) (pilot!Yaz) (medicaldoctor!13)

The Line of Fire by mag_lex (M) (11) (Wordpress) (human!Doctor) (bodyguard AU)

where I want to go by seaunicorn (T) (12) (AO3) (human!13) (road trip AU)

Comedy:

don't sound like friends by InLust (T) (3) (AO3)

Halloween Time-Knot by edlweiss (E) (4) (AO3)

home is where you rest your bones by orphan_account (E) (1) (AO3)

Notes to Self by Eriadu (E) (1) (PWP with humor) (AO3)

Fluff:

A Home for the Holidays by mag_lex (T)(2) (AO3)

Astronomy in reverse (it was me who was discovered) by transboytwelve (T) (1) (Fake dating) (AO3)

Buttons by mag_lex (G) (1) (Wordpress)

By the light of the moon by freefallvertigo (G) (1) (AO3)

Candy Floss by Evviejo (G) (1) AO3)

collision by timelxrd (T) (1) (AO3)

Stars On The Ceiling by swallowthecap (G) (1) (AO3)

The Earring by Evviejo (G) (1) (AO3)

Hurt / Comfort:

baby, you could be the death of me by freefallvertigo (E) (1) (AO3)

dead leaves and the dirty ground by Eriadu (T) (1) (hanahaki inspired) (AO3)

keep me close, love me most by seaunicorn (E) (1) (AO3)

right here, right now by InLust (T) (1) (AO3)

OT3:

baby, it ain't right (but isn't it amazing?) By transboytwelve (E) (1) (human!13) (Riverx13xYaz) (AO3)

begging for thread by orphan_account (E) (3) (unfinished) (Fashion / Model AU) (human!13) (ClaraxYazx13) (AO3)

I've never been a natural (all I do is try) by transboytwelve (E) (1) (Billx13xYaz) (AO3)

the way you react to me - Dirty Little Secrets by how_to_sit_gay (E) (13xYazxRose) (AO3)

PWP:

A Suprising Lack of Context by Rowanthestrange (E) (1) (AO3)

Ad Astra by Mag_lex (E) (1) (fluff) (wordpress)

anodized by TechnicolorRevel (E) (1) (AO3)

boiling point by vividfriend (E) (1) (AO3)

crave by freefallvertigo (E) (1) (AO3)

Drifting by Eriadu (E) (1) (AO3)

Drive-Through by mag_lex (E) (Crack) (1) (Wordpress)

Go Quiet by WinterTheWriter (E) (1) (AO3)

I Read It For The Articles by TechnicolorRevel (E) (1) (AO3)

I'm the holy water you have been without by transboytwelve (E) (1) (trans!Yaz) (AO3)

On Begged and Borrowed Time by transboytwelve (E) (Angsty) (1) (AO3)

take a picture, babe (cos I'm already yours) by transboytwelve (E) (2) (AO3)

Tendencies and Bravery by GolM (E) (1) (AO3)

the way that you react to me- Good Clean Fun by how_to_sit_gay (E) (1) ( AO3)

Tickety-Boo by TechnicolorRevel (E) (1) (AO3)

Time and Time Again by rowanthestrange (E) (Angst) (1) (AO3)

we're all born naked by TechnicolorRevel (E) (1) (AO3)

what will be the signal be for your eyes to see me by TechnicolorRevel (E) (1) (AO3)

Romance:

come as you are by freefallvertigo (E) (1) (AO3)

Discovery by Mag_lex (E) (1) (wordpress)

in the lines of time by fictorium (G) (1) (AO3)

Love found me all disarmed by Mag_lex (E) (4) (AO3)

misplacing home by yazkhan (G) (4) (AO3)

Sneaky Little Ghost Monument by LoadsofCustardCreams (T) (2) (AO3)

Soar (when I lay down with you) by how_to_sit_gay (E) (2) (Angst) (AO3)

through the waters and the wild by TechnicolorRevel (G) (1) (AO3)

your soul calls out in a familiar voice by abcooper (G) (3) (AO3)

Whittaker!Master:

Enter at Last, Master. by Might_Be_A_Zygon (E) (2) (Paranormal AU) (AO3)

Never Cruel or Cowardly - Dangerous Liaisons by Bow_Ties (E) (39) (Fantasy AU) (AO3)

The Unraveling of Yasmin Khan by transboytwelve (E) (3) (AO3)

[sinful-liesel]

Tears of Themis: Paradise in the Palm, Fluffy Romance, & Other New Merch Group Order

Hello~ I’m hosting a group order for Tears of Themis official merchandise!

I’m based in the USA & ship worldwide! Please see the order form below for more details.

Shares are appreciated! ❤ #lieselGOs

GENERAL INFORMATION

Form: bit.ly/4agH8El

Purchase Bonus ✅

Deadline: April 01, 2024 (11PM CST)

Paypal, Venmo, Google Pay, Ko-fi

PRODUCT LINEUP

Paradise in the Palm

Can Badge

Rotating Acrylic Stand

PET Shikishi

Fluffy Romance

Can Badge

Photocard & Sticker Set

Artem - Per Aspera Ad Astra

Can Badge

Acrylic Shikishi / Art Board

Shikishi / Art Board

Marius - Chirpy Amusument

Can Badge

Acrylic Shikishi / Art Board

Shikishi / Art Board

Blizzardous Threads of Red

Acrylic Magnet Display

Verdant Spring

Acrylic Magnet Display

[gliyerabaa]

Ten First Lines Game

Rules: Share the first line of ten of your most recent fanfics and then tag ten people. Don't have ten? Not to worry, just share what you have.

Tagged by: @wickedobsessed101

All fics and more can be found on my Ao3 And, I kind of fudged the rules and did the first two sentences for a few of these. cause some of them are very vague first sentences. AND I did two entries for per aspera, with the first sentence from the first chapter and the first sentence from the most recent chapter

The Best Laid Plans: Galinda gazed out the window at the snowflakes whirling through the air.

underneath the dark (door to my heart): Galinda Upland had, until this point in her life, had every proverbial door held open for her.

emerald constellations: Starlight shimmers through layer after layer of sparkling green glass, casting verdant reflections over every surface in the palace.

Unresented: “I wish I could be beautiful…” he says, leather hands trembling. 

Bridges: Rain pattered relentlessly against the windowpane, a percussive symphony punctuated by the occasional clap of thunder.

when you press me to your heart, I'm in a world apart: Rain fell against the windows of Crage Hall, as relentlessly as it had all morning.

That Joy, That Thrill: She’s trapped. Between the Wizard and Morrible and the Upland family name, Glinda knows that she must keep herself bound to countless standards.

seeing every delusion (I don't want to face): It’s another one of those nights. Glinda presses the bottle to her lips, letting the familiar yet still horrible burn of whiskey wash over her.

Per Aspera Ad Astra (Through Hardships Towards the Stars) (first chapter): Elphaba Thropp was different.

Per Aspera Ad Astra (Through Hardships Towards the Stars) (most recent chapter): Elphaba sat on the beach, watching as the last stars fizzled away in the breaking dawn.

evidently I have a thing for opening fics with scenes of precipitation. 3 of these 10...

anyway, I tag @wickedlyqueer, @a-fast-rebloger, @leo-frognag, and anyone else who wants to do this!

[verdantglow]

Well hello there!

I’m VerdantGlow, but you can call me Vert or Astra.

- My pronouns are they/them.

- I am an adult, specifically a millennial.

- My tagging on reblogs is strictly for organization so I can find things, but I am trying to get better at it!

- This is my MCYT sideblog! I am particularly smitten with the Traffic SMP series, though I’m also a fan of Hermitcraft & recently started watching Empires.

- This blog will contain shippy content!

- I am currently obsessed with SmallEtho, but I am a multi shipper at heart, so who knows what ships you’ll find here.

- I make art! Check out my art tag here: Verdant Art

[pyrasterran]

Most Great Beasts that roam the Earth are single, solitary creatures, completely unique from one another. This is not so for the Mantichira, a swarm-based subtype of Great Beast. A regular Great Beast will usually not notice you, even as its foot comes down over your relatively tiny frame. But a Great Beast that will chase you into your home, burn down your doors, and eat you alive, brings a special kind of dread to humans.

A Mantichira's sole drive in life is to eat as much as it can. With highly developed sight, smell and hearing, and a seemingly keen Astra sense, they will go as far as to eat plants around them if meat is not immediately available (although if given the choice between the two, they will always go for meat). A large enough swarm can devastate a city's population without completely destroying the infrastructure, leading to blood-covered ghost towns in the worst of circumstances. 

Mantichira are born the size of a dog and fully capable of defending itself. It will then proceed to eat anything its size or smaller, continuing to grow the more that it eats. You can generally tell how old a Mantichira is by how big they are. There is no known limit to their size but most usually do not make it past 20 meters. Mantichira can reproduce asexually once they have grown large enough, though whether or not they actually do seems to fluctuate with seasons. It's possible for a year to have a massive Mantichira "bloom" while the next they are practically in hibernation. While most are brown-furred, it is possible for Mantichira to come in different coats depending on their environment, from tan to black and even red or white. There are a few packs that have been found that have developed green coats in particularly verdant regions.

Aside from their brute strength, claws and jaws powerful enough to bit a chunk off a larger Great Beast's hide with some work, Mantichira are fire breathers and generally fireproof. Their bodies run hot as nearly every cell they ingest is used to fuel powerful metabolisms and the internal workings needed for their fiery existence. To top off their arsenal are tails that grow venomous quills that can be launched at more fire resistant enemies from afar. A single quill contains a special Astra-sensitive venom that can completely disable a regular human for 24 hours, or an Astra user for about half as long. With the size of the quills then they are larger, they are as likely to impale and rupture your insides as they are to paralyze you for a Mantichira to easily come over and begin devouring you. 

Some more audacious adventurers have tried to tame Mantichira through similar means as other animals, but for the few that can be counted on one hand to have made any progress, most of these adventurers end up getting eaten once the Mantichira is large enough. But their pack sensibilities among themselves embolden the believers, with a few GBRI agents dedicating their lives to an otherwise seemingly hopeless task.

[tmrsdiary]

The Serenade of Persephone | PROLOGUE

wattpad

ao3

you find them there if you want <3

AD ASTRA ABBYSOSQUE

[to the stars and the abyss]

__________

The sun burned beneath their weathered faces, and their breaths were sharp as if someone was pressing a blade against their chest, forcing them to exhale when all they craved to do was to let it struggle within them until their hearts ceased to beat. Until the world becomes obscure and full of the shade of emptiness.

Sweat dripped as a chilling touch, rolling over their skin like a stream born from their anguish and misery. Their bones ached, and the extremities of their hands were bound by the ropes that immobilized them behind their backs. Some stifled sobs could be heard, quietly tearing through the air, while others remained silent, having accepted their harrowing fate.

The beautiful island of Rhodes was known for its abundant vegetation, colorful flowers, and fragrant blossoms. Pine-clad mountains adorned its land, and lace-like beaches lined its edges, with the summer sun caressing its crystal-clear waters, creating a kind of dreamlike psychedelia. Colors like the blue of a pearl, white picturesque houses, and the green of the flora resembling a freshly thawed leaf emerging from the winter cold. The island of butterflies remained untouched throughout the passage of centuries, as the grand castles preserved from the Byzantine period were still flawless, giving a different hue to the entire image of the island. Greece is predominantly agricultural land, and many people rely on it as their sole means of sustenance. Lively fields abound with all kinds of plants, trees, and abundant livestock.

The towering pine trees stretched across the entire area, their height rivaling even the sky. The intense scent of flowers emanated from the deep groves, while the fragrances of aromatic herbs permeated the atmosphere. Even the branches were lush and verdant, forming a dense canopy overhead.

However, even if these prisoners knew where they truly were, still nothing could appease their souls, which would evaporate moment by moment like snow melting on the peaks of Mount Olympus— as if their existence was as insignificant as a worm crawling on the floor, searching for food, only to be stepped on by a passerby.

One pushed them forcefully, someone else pulled with frenzy those who were left behind, while some other soldiers watched the whole scene bewildered.

"Move on, beasts of hell," the man growled loudly, and a woman could be heard shrieking.

Another soldier turned his head and saw that his superior had grabbed the poor witch by her hair, dragging her to make her move faster. It seemed that her feet could not bear her any longer. The boy cleared his throat with the view next to him.

Some other women whimpered along with the witch's sobbing, while some men were too tormented and injured to react in any way. Their eyes were covered with cloth, leaving them unaware of where they were being led. Perhaps it was for the best that their eyes were covered, because if it was true what they said, that the eyes are the mirror of the soul, then most of the soldiers would have ended their lives before even embarking on the road into the forest. Perhaps they would have drowned themselves in the river flowing nearby, or perhaps they would have taken their own lives with the rifles tightly held to their shoulders, tossing their foolish minds into the air— perhaps, again, they would fall in the place of those wizards at the heart of the maelstrom that they were guiding them.

A large platform awaited them ahead, with hundreds of branches stacked on the surface and an equal number of stakes scattered here and there. No birds could be heard, nature had fallen silent in the face of this dreadful torment. What else could Mother Earth do, apart from watching in shock at what was going to happen? Since God could not help them, then no higher power could relieve them from their condemnation.

A young girl dared to open her mouth "What do you intend to do to us?" she asked.

Her blonde hair had been lightened by the heat of the sun, giving it a dark shade, while the way it stood on top of her head resembled the appearance of a withered plant that had not seen a drop of water in years. Her knees trembled, and her lips were bleeding from constant biting. She was surely a very beautiful girl. Maybe just sixteen years old. 

Surely a witch with a bright future ahead of her, which would now turn into ashes and ruins because she had found herself in the wrong place at the wrong time. They say that the Fates have only one eye, and if that was indeed true, the girl would gladly gouge it out until every nerve cell became a lifeless mass of blood and neurons.

The soldier looked at the girl, seemingly more experienced than the others, and appeared to have done this job before.

"We will send you back where you came from!" he spat out the words, and the witch felt a shiver piercing through her body. No, they would not.

The moments passed slowly, and they were tormented. Each second that ticked away on the clock felt like an interminably eternity. The shackles they wore clung to their flesh, and the stench of confinement was so prominent that some could not even bear to smell themselves. How long had they been locked inside that filthy cell? No one would answer them, and it would not matter anyway because they would not have the chance to recount their experiences to anyone they knew.

Many mothers waited at home for their lost children or their husbands to return, hoping that they had simply lost their way back. However, the world was harsh, and someone being absent from home for such a long time was likely an indication that meant that they had either been devoured by wild animals or captured by organ traders. That is how life worked— there was no time for mourning and miseries. Growing up in a world where only evil lurks, people had to learn to reconcile with pain and accept it like a mother's caress.

The soldiers began speaking in Greek, their words carrying an intensity that no one could quite determine. Fear? Awe? Disgust? Joy? Nothing seemed to fit the situation.

"Traitors," said a wizard, also Greek, among the prisoners. "We are compatriots, you scoundrels. We grew up on the same land. Kimonas Kartalis, from Piraeus, son of Myrtali and Stefanos Kartali. We speak the same language, believe in the same God, and have the same tradi—"

A punch struck him in the chest, and the man folded in half, clutching his lips as blood boiled beneath his battered skin. The ethics of these people were irrational. For so long, they were torturing people who had grown up with the exact same things as them, played in the same impoverished neighborhoods, and fell asleep to the same lullabies sung by their mothers. How could they do such a thing? All because they had magic blood on their veins.

"Do not you dare call me a compatriot again. I would never conspire alongside someone like you, a scum, a spawn that Devil has planted in our country," the soldier retorted. He waited for the wizard to catch his breath before hearing his response. When he did, an ironic smile formed on the soldier's darkened lips.

"As much of a monster as I am for the blood that runs through my veins, you are just as much, as long as you going to bath in it, wearing the aroma of debauchery and bogus dignity," he spat at him, and the general's expression turned to disgust. Nevertheless, he turned his body toward the soldiers and gestured for them to take the wizards to the platform.       

They tied them around a wooden column, large enough to accommodate them all. That is when the chorus of loud cries and prayers began, attempting to reach the ears of some divine power up there in the heavens. In vain, though it only called eagerly Death. Before they could finish their supplications, the fuse was lit, and within five minutes, the plank was engulfed in flames, with the wailing of the unfortunate sorcerers struggling with their psyche ready to be one with the air— some uttered curses towards their murderers, deadly enough to haunt their descendants in future generations. But actually who cared? The wretches were burning, paying for their sins, returning to the depths of Hell with their voices resembling a symphony that no human could hear. How much weight did their empty words carry before the Reaper?

On that day, fifteen warlocks and ten witches were burned alive, with the only sign of their existence being the echoes of their screaming that still resonate through the forest— some flesh remained charred on the wood, while a few of the trinkets they wore had come loose and lay on the fertile ground. Perhaps in this way, death found a new way to satiate its bloodthirsty nature.

Among the twenty-five sorcerers were three Jews, thirteen Greeks, two French, and seven from Great Britain. The Greek government discovered the bodies when natives from nearby villages reported hearing voices at night, shrieks, and occasionally a strong smell of burnt flesh dominating the atmosphere. It did not take long for them to realize that what had happened was not simply a random coincidence. Nothing was left of the individuals except for some severed flesh that wild animals had taken care of, and a few bodies that were still difficult to identify if they belonged to a man or a woman.

When the news became known, the Ministries of Magic revoked and decided not to disclose the case to the public audience. The world had heard enough about Grindelwald's crimes against humanity. Such news would only create more confusion than they had to deal with. The Greek government also kept silent about this event, and they had discreetly paid off Muggle farmers and landowners in the vicinity to keep them from speaking.

Thus, no one ever learned that on a sunny summer day in 1943, twenty-five sorcerers were completely charred, just like the witch trials that were happening in the Middle Ages. That day could have marked a new chapter in the history of magic, but some chose to leave it as a mere dystopian myth. The culprits were never found, although the case remains open.

_________

[swiftscion]

retrograde; swordmaster drabble (754 words)

Holding it used to remind her only of Mother--now it has gained its own meaning.

Her stellar Brave Sword--standard in its make, but a memento of the childhood she was robbed of--gleams in the lone ray of light peering through her window. It’s early morning now, typically the time she wakes up for training. But after that dream, Larcei feels trained enough. As she lays up and her eyes fixate on the particles of dust dancing just overhead, her body aches from all of those battles. It’s as though her muscles remember everything that transpired: every cut, every bruise.

More importantly, her heart remembers. 

Four other faces used to be nothing but mere acquaintances to her. But over the course of her journey at this academy, whenever she relegated herself to learning experiences in spite of her stubbornness, she made friends. Real friends. Friends that’d push her out of harm’s way or recognize her talents. Friends who call her wrong and make her apologize when she should, friends who aren’t afraid to demand the best from her when it really counts. She’s grateful for them. They, in the place of a real family or innocent youth, have shown her the breadth of life. Through her adventures with others Larcei has learned things that aren’t training drills, and though she’ll always revile Shannan whenever he treats her like a child, she grants that he was always right about one thing. 

She has room to grow. 

In ways other than those of war, she can still improve. There is no training mode for controlling her temper, no mock battle for stepping up to be a leader. Only through faltering and getting back up can she master life’s many skills.

Back to the blade. Her wrist twists and its edge moves, catching the light in a different way. A smile creeps on her face, for she finds it funny that all she can see in it now is the same edge that once protected her fellow staff and students. Mother is a lingering afterthought, only rising to the surface when she calls upon her. That is not to say that Larcei will stop searching for her, of course. Just that, perhaps, a new purpose is in order. What was it she was always told as a kid? A one-track mind will drive you straight into ruin? She almost feels hysterical having such a revelation on what should be a normal day, but maturing somehow is better than not maturing at all. 

She looks to her left, and notices the simple wood of her desk unburdened by a lack of textbooks or study guides. Perhaps she ought to pick one up--branch out into something new. Her room is filled with swords and enhancing rings, each finding a place against some wall or on the edge of a hilt. And though it would never see a page of magic theory, it could use a few lances or saddles. Better make sure she’s still a master of what she’s good at, then.

The raven-haired stands now, tossing aside her warm Blue Lions blanket. It lands in a kind of slobbish way, though she promises she’ll make it later. Right now, she’s got something more important on her mind. Feet pad across the creaky wooden floor of her room, finding a pair of mismatched socks and then her trademark boots. Her academy uniform follows, once it is dug out from the slight mess of her drawer. Larcei’s place doesn’t look like a tornado blew through it, but it is far from perfect. Nothing is truly organized, there exist little dust bunnies living in the corners--the list goes on. The way she sees it, there are better things to do with her time.

Anyways--she breathes. 

In through her nose, absorbed into her lungs, channeled by her heart. Cool morning air mixes with the glimmer of Od in her veins, and she can feel the rush of Astra kickstarting her day. The sensation is near-indescribable, but the best picture she could paint you is if every star in the night sky suddenly shone like the sun. It’s exhilarating; energizing. Her cloudy eyes blink, and they become verdant. At one point this was done solely in imitation of great Ayra, whose technique was famed in all of Isaach. But that’s in the past. No longer do her eyes don this color for a single purpose... 

...They flash Astra’s bright green for her companions, ready to strike down anyone who’d lay a hand on them.

[werewolf-spit]

The Dawnbringers!! I love them so much.

@lifeofthepartydnd

[pixel-dewdrop]

Just a small Astra with a bird :)

[dodouxie]

The Dawnbringers

[inkwillstain]

"Cant have a good scream, whats the world coming to?"

- Verdant Astra

[moonandstarsace]

The Campfire Song

This is a little song I wrote for the LOTP weekly theme 'campfire.' Lyrics are below.

As I was writing this, I imagined Astra singing this to everyone in the evening, as they're sat around the campfire, all sharing in the same feeling of comfort and safety they bring to each other.

Likewise, I'm forever grateful for LOTP and the comfort that their series bring to me.

Also this is the first song I've ever shared online and it's very scary but I really hope you like it x

Lyrics:

In the fire glow I feel safe and at home The woods, they whisper in my ear And tell me that they're here For me. But I've got friends at my side Been travelling together for a while All roads, they lead us here Wounds of the past disappear

For when the dawn comes around In safety, we are found It's the comfort that we bring And the campfire glows In every hidden secret told And the memories that we hold It's the comfort that we bring In the campfire glow In the campfire glow In the campfire glow It's the comfort that we bring In the campfire glow

[chantsings]

You don’t die instantly.

i heard lotp dawnbringers is back so i’m posting this old astra art

[skulls-and-snakes]

Rain

an observation from Astra's perspective

I feel at home in the rain.

It provides life, the world flourishes because of rain.

It nourishes plants and animals, and it's a beautiful sight to see.

Rain and sunshine coexist sometimes, and this rare event has a special kind of beauty.

Rain is often seen as dark and sad, but it can exist in the light.

[femboy-vanden]

a list of band names inspired by the dawnbringers:

two druids and a vegan

Boblem and the two hyenas

Sariel and the wolves

four idiots two goddesses

Astra and the Astras

Sariel and the himbos

Vanden and the vegetable gang

[zandotherthings]

I can’t believe Boblem used the uno reverse card when Astra teased him